Hand held herb or tobacco grinder

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present subject matter may include an electronic vaping device having a base and a mouthpiece having a monolithic construction. The mouthpiece may include a reservoir and a chimney. The reservoir may include a reservoir body that substantially includes a plastic. The chimney may be enveloped by the reservoir and have a chimney outlet at a first end of the mouthpiece and a chimney inlet at a second end of the mouthpiece. The base may include a base outlet connected to the chimney inlet and a base inlet connected to the reservoir. The first end may be opposite the second end. Some embodiments may include a power section coupled to the mouthpiece and configured to provide energy to contents from the reservoir.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/789,963, which was filed on Oct. 21, 2017 and the present application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/437,053, filed on Dec. 20, 2016, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure is related to an apparatus for grinding of herbaceous materials and, to an improved handheld tobacco grinder having elongated impingement slots for use in cutting and grinding such materials.

BACKGROUND

This section is intended to provide background information to facilitate a better understanding of various technologies described herein. As the section's title implies, this is a discussion of related art. That such art is related in no way implies that it is prior art. The related art may or may not be prior art. It should therefore be understood that the statements in this section are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

The grinding of leafy herbs, including tobacco, is often performed in handheld devices that cut, shred or grind dried herbaceous materials. While ideally the material is sifted and selected such as to be of uniform grindability, such is not always the case. Being agricultural products, plants such as tobacco cloves, and other herbs or spices may result in nonuniformity of consistency.

Today, the most widely used tobacco grinder design is one with three cavities, a top cap, and a bottom cap. The top half of the first cavity is formed by the top cap. A plurality of grinding knives protrudes from the tip cap. The bottom half of the first cavity also has a plurality of grinding knives and several large holes that lead into the second cavity. The second cavity has a screen that leads into the third cavity. The bottom half of the third cavity is formed by the bottom cap of the grinder. A dried tobacco leaf is placed inside the first cavity. The top cap is then rotated relative to the rest of the grinder allowing the grinding knives to cut the tobacco into smaller pieces. The smaller tobacco pieces are then passed through the large holes into the second cavity and then through the screen into the third cavity. The pieces in the second cavity can then be directed back to the first cavity for further grinding. The ground tobacco in the third cavity is collected in the bottom cap, which is removed by the user when ready to smoke it.

A major disadvantage of today's popular tobacco grinder is the inadequate ability to easily grind nonuniform materials that may include saps, seeds, stems, veins or variations in leaf cuticle or dermis.

Consequently, the need exists for improvements in handheld tobacco or herb grinders that are capable of easily receiving nonuniform herbaceous materials.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present subject matter may include an electronic vaping device having a base and a mouthpiece having a monolithic construction. The mouthpiece may include a reservoir and a chimney. The reservoir may include a reservoir body that substantially includes a plastic. The chimney may be enveloped by the reservoir and have a chimney outlet at a first end of the mouthpiece and a chimney inlet at a second end of the mouthpiece. The base may include a base outlet connected to the chimney inlet and a base inlet connected to the reservoir. The first end may be opposite the second end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features and advantages of the non-limiting embodiments herein may become more apparent upon review of the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are merely provided for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted. For purposes of clarity, various dimensions of the drawings may have been exaggerated.

FIG. 1 illustrates a grinding device;

FIG. 2 illustrates sections of the grinding device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A illustrates a first section of the grinding device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the first section of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A illustrates a second section of the grinding device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the second section of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A illustrates a third section of the grinding device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the third section of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A illustrates a fourth section of the grinding device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the fourth section of FIG. 6A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “n,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer, or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, including those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The following embodiments are examples of the inventive subject matter. Any element not suggested by, not disclosed and/or not recited in the following embodiments or appended claims is not essential to the inventive subject matter. Any element recited in the following embodiments and appended claims is not, by virtue of its inclusion, essential. Any element of the present disclosure may be replaced with any other equivalent element. For example, where the term “may” is used, a specific element may or may not be included in the inventive subject matter. Where elements are not referred to as optional, i.e., by using the term “may,” that element is not necessarily essential to practicing the claimed invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a grinder 100. The grinder 100 may include a first section 102, a second section 104, a third section 106 and a fourth section 108. The first section 102 and the fourth section 108 may be on opposing ends of the grinder 100. The first section 102 may be at a proximal end 110 and the fourth section may be at a distal end 112. The second section 104 and the third section 106 may be at a mid-region 114 of the grinder 100 and may be sandwiched between the first section 102 and the fourth section 108.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the grinder 100. Each of the first section 102, the second section 104, the third section 106 and the fourth section 108 is illustrated as having a circular cross-section. However, it is not necessary that each of the first through fourth sections have a circular cross-section; some may have rectangular cross-sections, triangular cross-sections, oval cross-sections, irregular cross-sections, etc.

FIG. 3A illustrates the first section 102. The first section may be colloquially considered a “lid” of the grinder 100. The grinder may be substantially closed to the outside environment. For example, contents within the grinder 100 may be maintained in the grinder 100. The first section 100 helps retain contents within the grinder 100.

The first section 102 may include a rim 302, a connector rim 304, a proximal surface 306 (e.g., a first surface), a distal surface 308 (e.g., a second surface), and a connector 310. The distal surface 308 may define a plurality of grooves 312.

The rim 302 may have a diameter that is larger than the connector rim 304. The connector rim 304 may be provided to help couple the first section 102 to the second section 104. A rim surface 314 may be an annular ring and may connect the rim 302 to the connector rim 304. The rim surface 314 may engage the second section 104 by butting against the second section 104.

Each of the plurality of grooves 312 may form an acute angle with a tangent line 316 of the connector rim that is an acute angle. For example, a centerline 318 at a distal end of a groove 312 a may form an acute angle with the tangent line 316. Each of the plurality of grooves 312 is illustrated as being arcuate; however, any or all of the grooves may be arcuate, linear, irregular or any combination thereof.

FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-section of the first section 102. Outside of the plurality of grooves 312, the distal surface 308 may be substantially flat. Each of the plurality of grooves 312 may be a defined recess in the distal surface 308. A periphery 312 b of each of the plurality of grooves 312 may be an acute edge, i.e., an edge that terminates in discontinuous surface rather than a substantially curved configuration.

A central axis 320 of the first section 102 may be coaxial with a central axis of the grinder 100. The central axis 320 may be at a central region 322 of the first section 102. The connector 310 may be located on the central axis 320. The connector 310 may be any type of connector such as a magnet, a pin type connector, a threaded connector, etc. The connector 310 is configured to engage a corresponding connector on the second section. The corresponding connector will be discussed in more detail below.

FIG. 4A illustrates the second section 104. The second section 104 may include a plate 402 having a proximal surface 404 (e.g., a third surface) and a distal surface 406 (a fourth surface), an annulus 408, a connector 410. The plate 402 may define a plurality of through-slots 412.

Each of the plurality of through-slots 412 may form an acute angle with a tangent line 414 of the annulus 408 that is an acute angle. For example, a centerline 416 at a distal end of a through-slot 412 a may form an acute angle with the tangent line 414. Each of the plurality of through-slot 412 is illustrated as being arcuate; however, any or all of the through-slot may be arcuate, linear, irregular or any combination thereof.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the plurality of grooves 312 and the plurality of through-slots 412 may have an identical configuration. For example, each groove 312 a may form an acute angle with the tangent line 316. Similarly, each through-slot 412 a may form substantially the same acute angle with the tangent line 414. Further, the number of grooves in the first section 102 may match the number of through-slots in the second section 104. FIGS. 2, 3A and 4A illustrate the plurality of grooves 312 and the plurality of through-slots 412 in an identical pinwheel pattern.

A grinding chamber may be defined between the distal surface 308 of the first section 102 and the proximal surface 404 of the plate 402. The grinding chamber may include a gap between the distal surface 308 and the proximal surface 404 or the grinding chamber may be a section of the grinder 100 occupied by contact between the distal surface 308 and the proximal surface 404.

FIG. 4A illustrates a cross-sectional view of the second section 102. A threaded portion 418 may be provided on an interior surface of the second section 102. The threaded portion 418 may contain threads and may be provided to help couple the second section 104 to the third section 106.

Outside of the plurality of through-slots 412, the proximal surface 404 of the plate 402 and the distal surface 406 of the plate may be substantially flat. Each of the plurality of through-slots 412 may be a defined hole through the thickness of the plate 402. A periphery 412 b of each of the plurality of through-slots 412 may be an acute edge, i.e., an edge that terminates in discontinuous configuration rather than a substantially curved configuration.

The central axis 416 of the second section 106 may be coaxial with a central axis of the grinder 100. The central axis 416 may be at a central region 420 of the first section 102. The connector 410 may be located on the center line 416. The connector 410 may be any type of connector such as a magnet, a pin type connector, a threaded connector, etc. The connector 410 is configured to engage the corresponding connector 310 on the first section.

FIG. 5A illustrates the third section 106. The third section 106 may include an annulus 502, a proximal threaded portion 504, a screen 506, a distal threaded portion 508 and a proximal collection chamber 510 (e.g., a first chamber) defined by in inner surface 512 of the annulus 502.

The second section 104 may be configured to engage the third section 106. For example, the threaded portion 418 of the second section 104 may engage the proximal threaded portion 504 of the third section 106. It is not necessary that the second section 104 be connected to the third section 106 via a threaded portion. It may be possible to connect the second section 104 to the third section 106 via connector mechanisms such as a key and slot connector, a magnetic connector, a force fit between a slot and tube, etc.

FIG. 5B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the third section 106. The inner surface 512 helps define the proximal collection chamber 510 of the grinder 100. The distal surface 406 of plate 402 defines a proximal limit of the proximal collection chamber 510. The screen 506 is positioned at a proximal end of the distal threaded portion 508 may define a distal limit of the proximal collection chamber 510.

FIG. 6A illustrates the fourth section 108. The fourth section may include a base 602, a threaded portion 604, an inner annulus 606. The base 602 and the inner annulus 606 may help to define a distal collection chamber 608.

The third section 106 may be configured to engage the fourth section 108. For example, the distal threaded portion 508 of the third section 106 may engage the threaded portion 604 of the fourth section 108. It is not necessary that the third section 106 be connected to the fourth section 108 via a threaded portion. It may be possible to connect the third section 106 to the fourth section 108 via connector mechanisms such as a key and slot connector, a magnetic connector, a force fit between a slot and tube, etc.

FIG. 6B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the fourth section 108. The distal collection chamber 608 is partially defined at is proximal limit by the screen 506 of the third section 106. As the fourth section 104 is on a distal end of the grinder 100, the fourth section 108 may be a distal lid of the grinder 100.

The grinder is operated by placing material, i.e., tobacco, spices, flower, etc. in the grinding chamber. The first section 102 may be rotated about the central axis 320 relative to the second section 104 (or the second section 104 may be rotated about the centerline 416) by hand or by a mechanical mechanism such as a motor. The material may be ground to small components of the original material by interaction of the material with the periphery 312 b of each of the plurality of grooves 312 and/or interaction of the material with the periphery 412 b of each of the plurality of through-slots 412. Ground material enters the proximal collection chamber 510 through the through-slots 412. Smaller particles may be separated out from the ground material through the screen 506 through which they enter the distal collection chamber 608.

Larger ground material in the grinder 100 may be removed from the proximal collection chamber 510 without disturbing smaller material in the distal collection chamber 608 by disconnecting the second section 104 from the third portion 106 without removing the fourth section 108 from the third section 106. Likewise, smaller material may be removed from the distal collection chamber 608 without disturbing material in the proximal collection chamber 510 by disconnecting the third section 106 from the fourth section 108 without removing the second section 104 from the third section 106.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure. 

1. A grinder comprising: a first section having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, the second surface defining a plurality of elongate grooves, each of the elongate grooves having a first end directed toward a central region of the second surface and having a second end at an edge region of the second surface; a second section configured to be coupled to the first section and having a third surface and a fourth surface opposing the third surface, the third surface defining a plurality of elongate through-slots, each of the elongate through-slots having a first end directed toward a central region of the third surface and having a second end at an edge region of the third surface; a groove edge at a periphery of each of the defined plurality of elongate grooves, the groove edge forming an acute angle with an outer edge of the first section; and a through-slot edge at a periphery of each of the defined plurality of elongate through-slots, the through-hole slot edge forming an acute angle with an outer edge of the second section.
 2. The grinder of claim 1, further comprising: a first connector at the central region of the second surface.
 3. The grinder of claim 2, further comprising: a second connector at the central region of the third surface, the second connector configured to connect to the first connector.
 4. The grinder of claim 3, wherein the first connector is a magnet.
 5. The grinder of claim 3, wherein the first connector is a first magnet and the second connector is a second magnet.
 6. The grinder of claim 1, wherein the defined plurality of grooves include a plurality of first grooves and a plurality of second grooves, wherein each of the plurality of first grooves is longer than each of the plurality of second grooves, wherein first edge of the plurality of first grooves is at the central region, and wherein the first edge of the plurality of second grooves is about midway between the central region and an edge of the first section.
 7. The grinder of claim 6, wherein the defined plurality of through-slots include a plurality of first through-slots and a plurality of second through-slots, wherein each of the plurality of first through-slots is longer than each of the plurality of second through-slots, wherein first edge of the plurality of first through-slots is at the central region, and wherein the first edge of the plurality of second through-slots is about midway between the central region and an edge of the first section.
 8. The grinder of claim 7, wherein a pattern of the defined plurality of grooves is substantially the same configuration as a pattern of the defined plurality of through-slots.
 9. The grinder of claim 1, wherein the first section is configured to couple to the second section in a nested configuration.
 10. The grinder of claim 1, wherein the first section is coaxial with the second section.
 11. A grinder comprising: a first section having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, the second surface opposing the first surface and defining a plurality of elongate grooves, each of the elongate grooves having a first end directed toward a central region of the second surface and having a second end at an edge region of the second surface; a second section configured to be coupled to the first section and having a third surface and a fourth surface opposing the third surface, the third surface defining a plurality of elongate through-slots, each of the elongate through-slots having a first end directed toward a central region of the third surface and having a second end at an edge region of the third surface; a groove edge at a periphery of each of the defined plurality of elongate grooves, the groove edge forming an acute angle with an outer edge of the first section; a through-slot edge at a periphery of each of the defined plurality of elongate through-slots, the through-hole slot edge forming an acute angle with an outer edge of the second section; and a third section configured to connect to the second section, the third section including a surface at an end distal to the second section, the third section, in combination with the second section, defining a collection chamber.
 12. The grinder of claim 11, further comprising: a first connector at the central region of the second surface.
 13. The grinder of claim 12, further comprising: a second connector at the central region of the third surface, the second connector configured to connect to the first connector.
 14. The grinder of claim 13, wherein the first connector is a first magnet and the second connector is a second magnet.
 15. The grinder of claim 11, wherein the defined plurality of grooves include a plurality of first grooves and a plurality of second grooves, wherein each of the plurality of first grooves is longer than each of the plurality of second grooves, wherein first edge of the plurality of first grooves is at the central region, and wherein the first edge of the plurality of second grooves is about midway between the central region and an edge of the first section.
 16. The grinder of claim 15, wherein the defined plurality of through-slots include a plurality of first through-slots and a plurality of second through-slots, wherein each of the plurality of first through-slots is longer than each of the plurality of second through-slots, wherein first edge of the plurality of first through-slots is at the central region, and wherein the first edge of the plurality of second through-slots is about midway between the central region and an edge of the first section.
 17. The grinder of claim 16, wherein a pattern of the defined plurality of grooves is substantially the same configuration as a pattern of the defined plurality of through-slots.
 18. The grinder of claim 11, wherein the first section is configured to couple to the second section in a nested configuration.
 19. The grinder of claim 11, wherein the first section is coaxial with the second section.
 20. The grinder of claim 11, further comprising a fourth section configured to connect to the third section. 